LottieR Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hi, We (I mean mainly me) would like to get an eglu, the plan would be to keep it in one place and then let the chickens have freeish run of the garden when we are at home. I was just wondering how well the grass will cope. We don't have a massive garden, the grass area is about 25ft by 15ft with borders on either side and decking down one end. whilst they are free range, would the chickens just turn the grass to mud after a while or should it not be too bad because they aren't just stuck in one place going up and down? I am worried because I would still like there to be somewhere for the children to run up and down that isn't just mud. Thankyou! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I have a very small garden and my lawn is fine in most areas as I limit the free ranging to a few hours a day. They do kick mud into the grass so I have put up willow boarders and as they have access to the whole garden I have put wire fence around the veg and flower pots over the plants I don't want them to eat when they free range. Its taken trial and error but I love my girls and you just have to make sure that you buy them greens from the shop to stop them eating your plants! My husband tells me off for buying extra food when we going shopping just for chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 We have quite a large garden and free ranging chooks. Our lawn is looking very good, the chickens have scratched all of the moss out of it. We were worried about what they might do to it but it is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hello. I am very new to this and have only had my two hens for a few months so limited experience. Mine stay in a wood chip run apart from a few hours each weekday and are out free ranging most of the weekend. They tend to only eat the grass on the lawn (~7mx8m) and seem to save their digging for the borders. As Badgerbluebagder says, they kick soil and leaves out of the borders onto the lawn which I've been sweeping back with a broom but might think about willow borders now Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottieR Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thats great, thankyou. I don't want the children to loose their play area because of my chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 My girls don't really scrat at the grass, they save that for the borders but as others have said they kick out the soil etc so am looking for higher edging to prevent this from happening. I really look after my lawn ie feed it, rake it, water when it's been warm etc and it looks better than it's done in ages - I think because I'm more aware of the fact that I need to look after it well if it's going to withstand the chickens activities. I'm sure the chicken poo now does it some good too but i normally rake the solid bits up and put it straight into the compost bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 hey I think i'm unusual in that mine free range basically all the time and my lawns fine. They don't dig it up dust bath in it or anything they have an area that they chose for dustbathing and it's kept clear and they dust bath in that and dig behind the plants in the border. All that happens is that once a day all the chicken poo is raked off the grass and it's fine Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
